Compare towns
Bennington vs Troy vs Hancock vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Troy has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bennington | Troy | Hancock | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,005 |
1,791 |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
40.2±5Lowest 7% below NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.2%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Troy and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$88,871±$14k 10% below NH |
$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Hancock and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$266,600±$39k 34% below NH |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,024±$331Lowest 31% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$5,229 22% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
77.2% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Hancock and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.